Waterproof and pressureproof connector



Oct. 13, 1953 H W, ALLEN WATERPROOF AND PRESSUREPROOF CONNECTOR 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Sept, 19, 1951 Oct. 13, 1953 H. w. ALLEN 2,655,638

WATERPROOF AND PRESSUREPROOF CONNECTOR Filed Sept. 19, 1951 2 SheetS-Shee. 2

EZEJE- f@ 6 H Hl l mn 7G Mff H ITQENEYS Patented Oct. 13, 1953 WATERPROOF AND PRESSUREPROOF CONNECTOR Harry W. Allen, Dayton, Ohio Application September 19, 1951, Serial No. 247,353

(Granted under Title 35, U. S. Code (1952),

sec. 266) 2 Claims.

The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the United States Government for governmental purposes without payment to me of any royalty thereon.

This invention relates to improvements in multiple electrical connectors of the type commonly used for quickly interconnecting the various equipment in aircraft radio practice, but while the prior art connectors merely provide means of making quick dependable connections between equipment, components, or systems, the connector hereinafter described as the subject of this application has all of the desirable features of the known art with a considerable number of novel features combined therewith.

One of the novel improvements herein disclosed and made a part of this invention consists in pressurizing the receptacle to adapt it for use in connection with pressurized or waterproof equipment wherein the equipment is effectively sealed against leakage of both air and water.

Another novel improvement consists in pressurizing a multiple contact plug mating with the receptacle, supra, which effectively seals the receptacle against air or water leakage and protects the receptacle against electrolysis if the equipment should be submerged while voltages were present.

Since both plug and receptacle eifectively seal the equipment on which they are being used, the equipment may be submerged, if desired, and will still remain operable.

The invention additionally contemplates waterproofing and pressurizing the cabling between plugs so that whole systems, including the wiring between components or equipment may be pressurized.

In the drawing,

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal axial section through a complete Waterproof and pressureproof connector.

Fig. 2 shows how two connectors of the kind shown in Fig. 1 may be joined by cable and the whole pressurized and waterproofed.

For purposes of clarity in description, the assembly which remains fast on the panel may preferably be referred to as the receptacle while the assembly which may be uncoupled from the receptacle may preferably be referred to as the plug Similarly, the individual contact members which are a part of the receptacle assembly may preferably be referred to as the pins while the individual contact members which are a part of the plug assembly may be referred to as the sockets Referring now to the drawing, the receptacle I0 comprises a cylindrical housing l2 having an external flange I4 and an internal flange I6. The longer hub of the receptacle is threaded externally as at I8, while the shorter hub is threaded internally as at 20. An internally threaded nut 22 is fitted to the threads I8 and is adapted to clamp a gasket 2G and the panel 2B upon which the receptacle is mounted between the flange I4 and the nut 22. An externally threaded nut 23 is fitted to internal threads 20 and is adapted to clamp the gaskets 30 and 32 and the shouldered portion 34 of the molded receptacle insert 33 against the internal flange I6. The molded receptacle insert 36 has one or a plurality of contact pins 38 imbedded therein.

cross section in its one side into which a correa spending bead is formed on the gasket 32.

The plug 42 comprises a housing 44, cylindrical at one end and frusto-conical at the other end. The cylindrical portion of the plug housing 44 carries a guide pin 46 on its external surface which engages a groove 48 to prevent relative rotation of the plug and receptacle. The cylindri` cal portion is internally threaded at one end as at 59 and is provided with an internal flange 52. An externally threaded nut 54 is adapted to clamp together the gaskets 56 and 58 with the shouldered portion 60 of the plug insert B2 therebetween. A bead 59 is formed on the shoulder of the molded insert G2 and a corresponding groove S2 is formed on the face of the internal flange 52, whereby light tightening of the nut 54 makes a perfect seal.

One or more contact sockets 63 are imbedded in the molded plastic plug insert S2 positioned to receive the pins 38 of the receptacle insert 35. The other extremities of pins 38 of the receptacle are adapted to have the desired leads connected thereto as by soldering.

Intermediate the ends of the cylindrical portion, the plug housing 44 has an annular rib 64 which is externally threaded to receive the nut 6G, which also threadedly engages the threads I8 of the receptacle housing I2, whereby the gasket 68 is clamped between the flange 'l0 and the upper end of the receptacle housing l2. Flange 10 of the plug housing 44 has an outer diameter equal to the inside diameter of the threaded portion I8 of the receptacle. The bottom of the flange contains a groove 1I. The upper rim of the receptacle shell has a bead 13 which mates with the groove 1l when the plug 42 is inserted in the receptacle I0. The gasket 68 is pressed between The internall fange it has an annular bead 40 of semicircular the ange 'I0 and the upper end of the receptacle housing I8. Screwing up the nut 66 makes a, perfeet seal.

At the beginning of the frusto-conical portion 'l2 of the plug housing 44, the housing carries an annular rib 'i4 externally threaded for the shoulder nut T6" for clamping. the flange: T8 ofthe cable sheath 8@ formed of a vinyl resin such as VinyliteV between the rib 'I4 and a gasket 82, at the same time clamping a frusto-conical ferrule 84 around the sheath 8i). While the sheath: 80 for. consistency shall be designated as a Vinylite sheath.

herein, the sheath may be formed of any vinyl resin of similar characteristics.

The connecting wires in thecable 83 which ex-F tend to the individual sockets 63 ofthe plug 42 are completely enclosed in the Vinylite sheatlr 80 whereby the pressure at which the plug and cable were sealed is maintained and Water or moistureY is excluded. The Vinylite tubing 80 which forms the cable sheath is formed over the frusto-conical end 'i2 of the plug housing 44, and being clamped between the housing part 'IZ andthe ferrule 84 by the nut I makes a perfect seal' even though hand pressure only is applied. A snap ring 88 may be added and placed partly around the plug housing d'4' where it prevents the nut B reaching the threaded section ofthe plug where it might loosen the nut 'l6` when the plug is being removed from the receptacle.. The snap ring also assists in removing the plug from the receptacleby acting as a' back stop against which nut 66 exerts a pressure when being unscrewed which tends to pull the plug from the receptacle.

In Fig. 2, twoV ofi the plugs 42 as are seen in Fig. 1 have their respective sockets 63' connected by the individual wiresv of a cable wherein thefrusto-conical ends of the plugs are joined by a single Vinylite sheath which surrounds the cable so that whole systems may be pressurized as a unit.

Air under pressure is a. very good. insulator. Its constant (K) atfsea level is taken as I and used in. measuring the value of` other dielectric materials. v

Airplane equipment is normally used between sea level and 40,000 feet altitude and at this altitude. air is not nearly so' good an insulator as it is at sea. level- It follows thatV insulation values in equipment operated at. sea level have to be i'ncreased'if the same equipment is to be' used at 40,000 feet, and this in turn often requires complete redesign.

The plug and receptacle herein disclosed wasy designed to be used in conjunction with equipment inv airtight containers which normally operate in changing altitudes. Use of' this connector not only allows equipment tovbe operated under pressure but makes it possible for' whole systems to be pressurized. This is particularly important in airplanes having pressurized compartments.

Slight modication of the connectors will permit the complete waterproong of automobile and airplane engine ignitions, thus preventing many ofY the troubles t'oz which they are now subject.

In addition to operating under severe moisture conditions the connector has been tested in operation under. Water for a period of seventy-two hours.

Having shown and described an embodiment of my' invention, I claim:

l.. In combination a. plug member having an internalA flange and spaced external ilanges, a receptacle member having an internal iiange and an. external iiange,y said receptacle member being disposed concentrically with said plug member, one end thereof extending to adjacent one of said external flanges on the plugy member and having a gasket sealingly interposed therebetween, the end of said plug member within the receptacle being. spaced from the receptacle internal frange member and having a gasket sealingly interposed therebetween, a molded insert having contact pins within the receptacle,v a

gasket sealingly interposed between the molded.

insert and the receptacle internal flange, a mold# ed insert Within said plug member having sockets therein aligned with the contact. pins, and means sealingly interposed between the pluginsert and the plug internal flange, a waterproof, pressure resistant sheathing enclosing the other end of the plug, sealingly engaged with the other of said. external flanges on the plug member and extending out from said. plug member., and cable meanshaving its individual wires connected' to the sockets inthe plug insertand extending. coaxially within said sheathing and completely enclosed thereby. Y

2, The structure as. set forth in. claim ly wherein two of. said structures are aligned with their plug ends opposed and cable means connecting. the cable wires. attached to their. respective sockets, the sheathing being. arranged coextensive. with the cable means whereby a waterproof',Y pressurized unitobtains.

Name DateY Sprigg Oct. 5, 1948:

OTHER REFERENCES Abstract of appl. Ser. No. 548,121, published November 8, 19.49.

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